PLASMA GLUCOSE (P.G.) LEVELS IN EXCLUSIVELY BREASTFED TERM NEWBORNS. |[dagger]| 1380

Concerns over inadequate milk secretion with exclusive breastfeeding during the first 24 hours lead to supplementation with dex or formula, which in turn may decrease milk secretion further. We hypothesized that early colostrum feed is helpful and exclusive breastfeeding is safe and would not result in hypoglycemia (PG < 35 mg/dl at 0-3 hr. and< 40 mg/dl at 3-24 hrs.). Forty-one normal term newborns born by vaginal delivery to mothers from a homogeneous middle class population were enrolled in a prospective study after maternal consent was obtained. All infants were put to the breast shortly after birth. The maternal age (mean ± SD) was 29 ± 5 years; 16 were primiparas. The infant's birthweight and gestational age (mean ± SD) were 3447 ± 423 grams and 39.3± 1.1 wks respectively. M:F-23:18, LGA-15, SGA-0; 39 were Caucasian. Each baby had an Apgar score of 9 at 5 minutes. Pattern of breastfeeding for Day 1 is shown in Table.(Nighttime is defined as 11:00PM to 7:00AM.): Prefeed plasma glucose levels in mg/dl and No. of infants with low P.G. are shown inTable.